Sunday, 27 September 2015

It was a cold day outside, but in the hall there was warmth, fun and joyous laughter! We turned 33!

Girls had brought their champagne glasses, and it wasn't long before the corks were popping!

Thoughts turned to 33 years ago when the group first started, small at first, but now a group needing a large hall such as ours! Congratulations everyone, from those who were original members, to all the new faces who have contributed in their individual ways to growing the group to what it has become.

As always we celebrated with a delicious cake,

very expertly divided and served by Kerry and Akiko's. Thanks girls. Jess popped the corks, and Narelle took care of drinks. Thanks to all who helped here and there.

As promised, those who took part in the Jess Challenge of making something from "impossible" fabric

chosen from a lucky dip bag, brought along their valiant efforts for a mini show and tell. Here they are....

Jess

Jenny

Iris

Karen

Robin S

Judy

Joy

and Aylsa

Aylsa is looking for some hardy soul to find a creative way to use her counter-change blocks. I've volunteered since I didn't get to make a lucky dip myself. Stay tuned!

We chatted about a name for the finished Contemporary Quilt, and came up with "Licorice Allsorts".

What do you think? It was overwhelmingly voted on by those present.

Congratulations to Judy and her group on completing this project so well.

Much cake, champagne and stitches all around the hall.........

and finally we held the draw for the five complimentary movie tickets, donated by Giant Steps.

The winners were - Josie, Jess, Sally, Helena and Iris!

Congratulations!

Actually, Jess and Sally we're delighted to win, but can't actually go on that date. They offered them to me, but I also can't make it. So if anyone as a pair or individual is busting to go, please give me a call and the tickets will be yours. First in first served I'm afraid. So call NOW!

On top of everything else, we had some great SHOW AND TELL!

This counter-change quilt was by Kerry, and came from a range of fabric called "The road well travelled".

This gorgeous braided scrappy is being Narelle, and she was working valiantly on it at the retreat. Looking very nice indeed.

Here are two waggas for the next show done by Jess. Jess will be away from us for the rest of the year working! Have fun Jess. We'll miss you. See you next year.

This beautiful one is for the community collection, and done by Gil and Doreen. Fabulous work girls.

Finally two new baby quilts for The Grace Centre, the first done by June, and the second by Robin S, with free-motion quilting by Karen. Very cute indeed!

And so, a great party was enjoyed by all present. Thanks for participating everyone. See you soon!

Monday, 21 September 2015

A note that Campbelltown Quilters are having their Biennial Show on the 14 and 15th of November at Campelltown Civic Centre.

Our 33rd birthday party will be this coming Thursday, September, 24th. Bring your 'Jess Challenge' pieces if you have them, and prepare to put your name in the draw for a complimentary movie ticket donated by Giant Steps. They are sending us 5 tickets to a Special Preview Screening of "The Dressmaker", directed by the same director of "How To Make An American Quilt".

The screening will be on Wednesday, 14th October, at the Hoyts Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, from 6pm to 9.15pm.

If you are interested in having your name in the draw but can't get to group this week, please let me know by email or phone. I'll also forward on the full email for more info.

Jess has a quilt featured in the current issue of "Quilters Companion", and Jess and Carolyn have quilts featured in coming issues of "Home Spun Diary". Check them out!

Just the one show and tell piece this week, and it's from Jess - the final finished Wagga she's been working on. Looking stunning!

Monday, 14 September 2015

Hi all. Not a great deal of news to talk about this week, and a very small Show & Tell. Nevertheless, every Thursday get-together is fun.

Just a reminder that next Thursday, 17th is the deadline for contributions towards the Lord Mayor's Picnic Quilt. Hand any remaining ones to Iris so the serious designing can begin. Those that have come in already are very impressive indeed, and it will be fun playing around with the layout. It looks like yet another stunning result for this yearly endeavour!

Thanks to Heather who has donated a set of various sized hexagon plastic templates which came from an elderly lady's quilting room clear-out. They have been placed in the equipment cupboard for general use. Help yourself.

Joy now has only one date in October which is not covered for kitchen duty. I think it's the 18th, but check the dates on the cupboard list to be sure.

Our 33rd birthday will be celebrated at a party on Thursday, 24th September. Bring a glass and your "Jess lucky dip challenge" item if you did one and still have it! Some people are still working on theirs to add to the mix. Should be fun.

In addition to that, there will be an 'unveiling' of the final version of the Contemporary Quilt. Judy has asked if people can give some thought to a name for the quilt, and we can make that decision at the party. Start having a think.

That's pretty much all of the news. Now for just two items of Show & Tell. It was such a HUGE collection last time that we must have exhausted the supply!

This little baby quilt was made and donated by Barbara Ward, a friend of the group and one of the CWA ladies who comes now and then to collect donated quilts. Thanks Barb! It's really cute.

The final one is a quilt top done by Joy from a Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt challenge through "Quiltville". A lot of work Joy, and quite stunning. Can't wait to see the final product.

So there you have it for another week. Look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Sunday, 6 September 2015

A good turn out for community day. Plenty of activity throughout the hall.

We need volunteers to fill the kitchen duty roster for October 8 and 15. So if you haven't done one this year yet and your name isn't down for the rest of the year, check your diary and see if you can't help out. Cheers.

The new edition of the Template Magazine has arrived, together with our membership of the Guild card. Help yourself to a browse of the library copy when next you're at Quilters.

Thanks to Helen, we now have a new stock of wadding in the cupboard. Thanks Helen!

The Traditional Quilt is still doing the rounds. Thanks to all those who have taken a turn. June did her stint and handed it over this week to Robyn S, so see Robyn next week if you're ready to have a go. Getting near the end of the quilting now! Thanks all.

It was decided that we will celebrate our birthday this year on Thursday, 24th September. We plan to eat drink and be merry, and also have a small 'showing' of the Jess challenge pieces. So on the day, bring along whatever you made from your lucky dip fabric, and a glass to share a celebratory tipple.

Progress is being made towards the purchase of our Accuquilt Go cutting machine. Updates soon!

SHOW AND TELL:

Quite an extensive session this week, so settle back and enjoy the show!

First off, we saw three gorgeous new baby quilts for the Grace Centre. These will be much appreciated.

Next came a collaboration between Val and Iris to put together a 'doggy' themed quilt for the community collection. Very cute indeed.

Iris then showed three quilts done for the community collection by Pamela R (a previous member). Very lovely work they are too.

Iris then showed a block of the month quilt she has done from the Flower Garden. The quilting is a major feature and is beautiful.

Helen displayed a quilt she has made for her daughter-in-law who has just returned from a trip to Europe, which explains the themed fabric. Gorgeous.

The next quilt displayed was by Jenny B from her "How Fragile" quilt series (see the current issue of the Template page 9 for the full article). Some fascinating concepts. The fabric details and history in this quilt demonstrate the depth of feeling and memory in historic quilts. Thanks Jenny.

And the spectacular showing went on.....

Below is a labyrinth quilt done by Karen. This took everyone's breath away by its outstanding design and fantastic construction!

It's another one of Karen's which needs to be seen (up close) to be believed! Outstanding!

Next Jessica showed a fabulous Wagga to add to the collection. Quite a stunning result. Well done Jess.

Jess followed this up with a quilt done at a workshop by Deb Laurie on machine quilting. A very nice result it is too.

Finally Margaret D showed a quilt top put together in a week by Maree K from blocks Margaret says she made years ago. Sometimes it takes a friend to help bring old favourites back to life! Lovely result.

Well, as I said at the start, it was a mega show and tell week. A veritable feast of quilts!